Doncaster man rescued from North Sea

An elderly Doncaster man, who fell overboard from his yacht in the North Sea, has been rescued by a passing fishing boat.

The man, who has not yet been named, was sailing to Lindisfarne, Holy Island off the Northumbland Coast, when the incident occurred.

He was wearing a safety harness, and as a result was being dragged along by his boat towards Blyth.

The man, who is believed to be in his 60’s, tried to get the attention of nearby boats for more than an hour before being rescued by people on board a passing fishing boat, called the Beverley Anne.

People on board the Beverley Anne notified the Coastguard, and the Cullercoats lifeboat was launched.and arrived on the scene along with paramedics.

Helmsman Peter Clark ascertained the welfare of the casualty and decided that because he had been in the water for so long and was feeling cold that he should be taken to the lifeboat station, where paramedics were waiting.

The incident took place on Thursday, August 7, and after being assessed, the Doncaster man was then taken to a waiting ambulance, and onwards to the North Tyneside General Hospital.

Peter Clark, Senior Helmsman Cullercoats RNLI said of the incident: ‘The casualty had the common sense to wear a safety harness which meant that when he fell overboard he would always be near his yacht.

“Without it he would have drifted away and he would have been much more difficult to locate especially having been in the water an hour and the search area would then have been much wider”

The lifeboat then returned to the stricken yacht and towed it to Blyth Harbour where it was safely secured by members of the Royal Northumberland yacht club.

The Doncaster man is still believed to be receiving treatment at North Tyneside General Hospital.